Our fruit farmers are now surging ahead with the new season harvest of Apples and Pears,
With the help of British Apples & Pears (BAPL) The English Apple Man looks forward to the 2025 apple & pear harvest
September 2025 will mark the start of the new British apple and pear season, and UK growers say that a dry growing season has not hampered the developing fruit. Instead, 2025 could be the best for quality and flavour for many years.
Apple volumes are generally looking good. While variations from orchard to orchard exist, the overall apple crop is looking good. Expectations are that it will be up a little on 2024.
Beautiful skin finish and sweeter flavours. In general, the 2025 apple season crop is looking stunning. The skin finish is excellent, with much of the russet seen last year not so prevalent this year. The warm, sunny weather over recent weeks is generating a delicious, sweet flavour profile.
BAPL Orchard Watch pictures: taken by UK Apple & Pear Growers and uploaded to BAPL Orchard Watch
Picking of the early season dessert apples have been 'jogging along' since July, and Bramley apples in late August, Pears underway too. The main harvest will take off in early September with Gala with other later varieties following on!
Below: Pears are being harvested
Below: Views of pears before harvest
Below: Pear size and quality is exceptional this year, with skin finish so clean
Below: Robijn apples
Below: Egremont in East Kent
Below: 'Is it a wasp? a Hornet? thankfully it is a European Hornet, not the dreaded Asian Hornet
The Asian hornet, also known as the yellow-legged hornet, is an invasive species in the UK that poses a significant threat to local ecosystems, particularly honeybee populations.
Overview of the Asian Hornet
Scientific Name: Vespa velutina, commonly referred to as the yellow-legged hornet.
First Detection: The Asian hornet was first confirmed in the UK in September 2016 in Gloucestershire. Since then, sightings have increased, with 72 nests found in 2023 alone.
The brilliant picture was sent in by Sarah-Jane Worthington from Worcestershire and emphasises the benefit of BAPL Orchard Watch which allows growers to identify and share potential issues and respond quickly to each other, a fellow 'OW' responded with its looks like a European Hornet to me!
That is all for this week
Take care
The English Apple Man
Published: On line at 11am Saturday 30th August